Dyspraxic Adults

What can I expect by way of an assessment with an educational psychologist?

Thanks

If its anything like my assessment you will have an intelligence test, they are looking for a spiky profile not how clever you are, they will likely ask questions about every day things like driving, dressing, learning to tell the time etc. They may also ask you to read and write some stuff. When you get the result I would recommend DavidGrant`s book to help you understand the report.

I was really disappointed by my assessment From the outset the "assessor", an Educational Psychologist, told me he was unable to assess for dyspraxia apart from rhyming off a set of questions from the dyspraxia website, which resulted in him telling me what I basically already knew - that I had dyspraxic traits. The report went on to detail that I allegedly had other issues - which is a pile of mince - and he made claims that he couldn't possibly know about in the hour and a half he spent with me - especially since he did not ask me pertinent questions about these issues.

I KNOW it is dyspraxia - not severe by any means, but all the same still dyspraxia which is the cause of my issues - does anyone have any suggestions where I should turn to now.

Thanks for listening

Did he she perform a cognitive function test discrepancies are suggestive if dyspraxia ...I would read David Fuller`s book thats the way I think and having read that if you do not think you had a proper assessment complain first to the psychologist who assessed you and if you do not get satisfaction from them the the British psychological society or HcPC I would suggest an OT but that's hit and miss. Seems like the quality of your assessment depends on the experience of the assessor....I was diagnosed as dyspraxic by a psychologist assessing me for dyslexia! There is a company of ITs offering specific assessment for dyspraxia but quite pricey.http://www.dyspraxiauk.com/usefullinks.php see what you think

The Lurker wrote:I was really disappointed by my assessment From the outset the "assessor", an Educational Psychologist, told me he was unable to assess for dyspraxia apart from rhyming off a set of questions from the dyspraxia website, which resulted in him telling me what I basically already knew - that I had dyspraxic traits. The report went on to detail that I allegedly had other issues - which is a pile of mince - and he made claims that he couldn't possibly know about in the hour and a half he spent with me - especially since he did not ask me pertinent questions about these issues.

I KNOW it is dyspraxia - not severe by any means, but all the same still dyspraxia which is the cause of my issues - does anyone have any suggestions where I should turn to now.

Thanks for listening

I'd try for an assessment with a suitable Occupational Therapist. Because dyspraxia has physical symptoms, OTs often do a much better job of diagnosing it - I think I'm right in saying that dyspraxia should be diagnosed by a medical professional of some sort, which is why the Ed Psy can't diagnose it.

My son (now 19) was identified at the age of 4 through an OT assessment and is about to have a post 16 assessment (required by the university he is starting in September) with another OT through The Dyscovery Centre in Wales. I'll post again after the assessment to see if I can add any information for you as to what it entails for an adult.

The other option is specialist teachers - I think they have to hold a PATOSS registration of some kind. Not sure why they're OK and not an Ed Psy

I got that too so I am with you there. I was assessed privately earlier this year

Think it depends on the Ed psychologist and if they specialize in assessing specific learning disabilities. Please be cautious about being assessed by an OT, you need to check out their experience and training for assessing adults with dyspraxia, I would be cautious if they have no experience or training as they may not realised that adults with dyspraxia will have made considerable unconscious adaptations so may not necessarily assess new movements and cognitive aspects which need to be done for a comprehensive assessment.

I had another assessment a couple of weeks ago, turns out I have mild to moderate dyspraxia gee I hadn't worked that out myself

Specialist teachers are now able to get an educational assessment for dyspraxia - I was told my son had a typical dyspraxic profile something about better non-verbal ability. The assessment he had a few months ago was done by a lady in Berkshire who was mentioned on this forum. The recommendations in the report are so helpful especially for college as he wanted to do a degree course and even things like ergodynamic equipment was mentioned which I am not sure what it means.
What I understand is that dyspraxia is medical but educational assessments can be done to help come to terms with it. We all have weaknesses but strengths too. So find someone to assess you properly. The assessment shouldn't be all negative but mention strengths as well. Good luck

susanjones wrote: - I was told my son had a typical dyspraxic profile something about better non-verbal ability. . . . . even things like ergodynamic equipment was mentioned which I am not sure what it means.

Hi hope you don't mind my interjection/attempt at clarification here.

I do wish they would refrain from using 'typical', It's very subjective and very much a spectrum.Whilst there are some commonalities, we are different in how we approach things and our coping strategies for finding our own way.
I'm wondering if non verbal ability in this context is an allusion to your son's ability with non verbal cues (inc interpreting body language of others), something a 'typical dyspraxic' struggles with

To me at first look 'Ergodynamic' seemed to suggest something that can be used flexibly but my quick googling suggests it may be more to do with equipment to (try to) improve our posture/the way 'we' move/do things.
Does that make sense?